Thursday, December 3, 2015

If there's no photos it didn't happen

Curse the internet unwritten rules about photos! I simply either have a life, or I have a camera. I cannot seem to have both at once.

Here's me, as Constance, at a gig in Christchurch last Saturday, 28 November. Like good detectives, let us work from this evidence to put together a story of times and fun.
1. Also in the photo are, from left, Ross, Terry and Aunty Christine. She is not our Aunty, but that's fine. She's Sophie's and that's all you need to know. Ross is wearing a waistcoat covered in silk applique sunflowers I made him over 20 years ago. Terry is wearing a shirt I made him about a year ago. T and R actually live in Wellington but got it into their heads to come to a show in Chch instead, and bring Aunty Christine.
2. So, how did I end up in Chrstchurch on the evening of the 28th November? Wearing the red sequinned costume with fluffy feather boa all around the edge? It all started at 12.45 at a Christmas lunch, with my darling quilters at Capital Quilters. I hung out, entertained them with some songs, then drove back home. 20 minutes to finish packing and off to the airport, complete with sequins and feathers! No time to change and anyway no room in my suitcase!
3. On the plane, sat beside a lovely man from Merivale, applying all my charms to him so he relaxes and copes with sitting beside all of that! I rewarded him by plastering his neat black slacks with cream feathers. He took a photo of me in my plane seat because we reckoned his wife would never believe him!
My gorgeous friend Jacinta picked me up and dropped me at the venue. Years of living in Christchurch meant a bed for the night and lots of mates to come to the show was the easy bit! The evening comprised two shows, the first emceed by a local comedian Dan Bain. I hung out backstage and got bio info off the performers. And when it turned out they were a performer down, I went out and sang! As you do!
My show went fine - so lovely that so many Christchurch friends came - many of whom had never been to a burlesque show and never would have otherwise. All had a laugh so that's what counts.
Jacinta and I got to bed about 2am after peanut butter sandwiches and tea - I had eaten nearly nothing all day. We made up for it at a yummy brunch with Adele and Wendy on Sunday. The four of us were the Musketeerettes of Christchurch 10 years ago! So nice to hang out again.
All this fun led to me getting to the airport a teeny bit late for checking in my suitcase, so it went off to be sent on later, it turns out.
And when I finally got in my front door with MrC the gorgeous hunk, it was after 4pm and the house smelled of roasting turkey. By 6pm we had a crowd of mostly American friends, all bearing delicious dishes, for a slap up Thanksgiving feast.
Thanksgiving as I've said every year, is not a Kiwi thing. But I love the idea of having a holiday just to give thanks. I have so much to give thanks for - and this past amazing weekend is only one of my many blessings.
Much love,
MrsC xo
PS. Do you like my head piece? Santa poking out of the my chimney on a little tiled roof!

9 comments:

Yes, I like your head-piece. A few years ago, someone said that you didn't exist unless you had a website. Now it is a case of it didn't happen/you didn't go there/it was not you standing in front of the Taj Mahal unless there is photographic evidence.

Aw bless. To be clear to our reading audience though, I don't do burlesque, I host shows / emcee shows and I sing silly songs. I don't get my kit off. Just to be clear ;-) We don't want to scare the children! And that turkey got into the oven c/o the husband but it didn't dress itself on Friday! ;-)

I'm still not sure I've got the full gist of it; and no, it's not the lack of photos. But I know what you mean by that - there are so many things I never blogged about because no photos, or no good photos! (Sometimes, though, I do that on purpose to enjoy it more - like I did at my sister's wedding years ago. And of course some the readership demanded photos afterwards! To be fair to the readership, it was a friend who wasn't at the wedding. :D)Thanksgiving is one of those things that work really well when transplanted into a different country with expats, almost better than it does in the country of origin by some accounts... There is an English Christian group in Brno led by an Amerian missionary that does put on a Thanksgiving meeting every year - I didn't go, because I was ill for almost two weeks (boo!), but previous experience teaches me it does create a wonderful communal feeling, so it's no wonder I often read in blogs from elsewhere that it happens as an occasion for expats to meet.

What a fabulous time you had!! I laughed at your description of the man on the plane. I'm glad you feathered his pants. Does that sound rude? I hope so! Heh. How great that you could step in and save the show. Too bad I can't see the rest of your sequins but I can imagine them. Glass raised to you! Cheers!!